Clark County traffic safety crackdown nets 44 citations
Tuesday, June 23 | 8:57 p.m.
BY LAURA MCVICKER
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER
Police issued 44 driving citations during last weekend’s extra patrols aimed at speeders and impaired drivers.
Of the 44, three were cited on suspicion of driving under the influence, eight for speeding, one for aggressive driving and the remaining number for a variety of violations, said Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp.
The patrols took place in Clark County on Friday and Saturday as part of a statewide emphasis dubbed "X52" and initiated by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
The added patrols take place every week in a different part of the state and are paid for by grant money from the safety commission. The grant money covers overtime.
by Think AboutIt : 6/24/09 6:11am - Report Abuse
Here we go again with Clam Chuck's obsession thinking someone makes money off of this.by Joe Fryberger : 6/24/09 6:25am - Report Abuse
safety = Kaching$$$ I think they call it safety enhancement, or was that revenue enhancement, all I know is the taxpayer pays again. Down South they call them 'Revenuers' for a reason.by K Gero : 6/24/09 6:52am - Report Abuse
Forty four citations, people. No great funding revenue generated here, but they did stop one deewee, road rage driver and heaven knows what else. Joe F. Did you notice any OT or additional patrols were grant funded? Bring on the Revenuers - they help keep our roads safer!!!Think AboutIt AND Ham, the only ones who will profit out of this are the insurance companies when they catch word of a citation on the people's records.
by delbert greening : 6/24/09 7:31am - Report Abuse
pulled over 100 times in 3 years, in what manner do you drive???? it would seem that you could benefit from some sort of driver training. 100 times and only, ONLY, 12 tickets. that is four a year. sir, just what are YOUR ins. rates?? you do not belong behind the wheel.by s douglas : 6/24/09 8:24am - Report Abuse
they should be doing this all the time!!by Mrs T : 6/24/09 9:54am - Report Abuse
Great job! I would hope the fines are enough to cover the costs! It's about time! Wish they would take place every week in EVERY part of the state!by Kevin Fossen : 6/24/09 10:57am - Report Abuse
I can't drive 55.by ima taxpayer : 6/24/09 11:24am - Report Abuse
crush the cars of drivers without a license or insurance.by 427 : 6/24/09 11:55am - Report Abuse
When the thought process becomes fines need to cover the costs or generate revenue, you are going down a slippery slope...by Norman Smiley : 6/24/09 12:00pm - Report Abuse
Foss? Ever heard of the cole roll? I'm having flashbacks to high school.by J Sto : 6/24/09 3:04pm - Report Abuse
That means that 32 were for other violations?? What were they? Failure to bring the already obese cops donuts when they are waiting blocking traffic like I saw two of them doing! And what about the City Cop that watched a car go right through a stop sign and did nothing!! To busy eating your donut??by Mrs T : 6/24/09 3:08pm - Report Abuse
by 427.... help out my thought process. I appreciate different views. Why should taxpayers that are law-abiding pay the greatest share of having our law enforcement on the roads? Our tax burden (in my opinion) is more justifiable in paying our officers to respond to emergencies, etc. Tell me why that is a slippery slope. If I do the crime, I would expect to cover the costs!by Jeff Johnson : 6/24/09 3:13pm - Report Abuse
I often criticize local police for extorting money through excessive and useless fines, however, this is one enforcement program I can support because it targets people who are PUTTING OTHERS AT RISK. Fining someone for not wearing a seat belt is stupid, because they're only risking their own safety. Stopping and fining an aggressive driver, on the other hand, removes the risk which they are placing on others. I am daily confronted with idiots who are rocketing down the freeway, weaving through traffic, and it's a miracle that they don't kill or injure more people than they do. I love seeing these morons get some karma, even if it is from a cop. Thanks and kudos to the police for finally doing something worthwhile. Keep this up!by Svetsie I : 6/24/09 5:10pm - Report Abuse
well i think its a little rediculous when you get a ticket for going 5 miles over the speed limit on the freeway!!!by K Gero : 6/24/09 6:04pm - Report Abuse
Jeff Johnson, I agree with you for the most part except for the fines for not wearing seatbelts. The reason is insurance. These free souls who wish to live life on the edge are usually the first ones thrown, pinned or shoved and killed. When they are deceased, their insurance ceases after payment, no more policy premiums paid by deceased (understatement). The insurance policy may pay for part of their accident, but most likely in the attempts to save some of them, the costs can run into the six digit numbers should the driver's death occur months after the accident. Now we are faced with the fact that the insurance has to pay the hospital the maximum Personal Injury Protection. Once maxed, the hospital has to either go after the family or write it off. Costs at the hospital increase due to the charity writeoffs and is reflected on the insurance. The other policy owners have to bear this cost when the insurance companies have no choice other than to raise everyone's premiums. It is kind of like a do-se-do game with our premiums.Svetsie I: The speed limits are just that! The highest speed we are supposed to go. There is no leeway for going a few miles above the limit. Besides, the higher the speed, the faster the fuel disappears.
by Mrs T : 6/24/09 6:12pm - Report Abuse
Svetsie... some people just like supporting that foreign oil import business! Usually, it's the same people that want "drill, baby, drill"!by Ham Chuck : 6/24/09 6:30pm - Report Abuse
Ummm... I think my sarcastic mimicry of the conspiracy bunch was lost on some. Oh well, back to real life.by MIke C. : 6/24/09 8:45pm - Report Abuse
I"m all for this type of enforcement,and wish our budgets allowed for it 24/7. Waaaaaay too many total jerks who think they own the road out there for my liking.Nice job,Officers !!!!!!!!!!
by Ryan Thomas : 6/25/09 7:08am - Report Abuse
Jeff Johnson: So you really think giving a ticket to an agressive driver is making the road more "safe". I would really love to hear your logic behind that one. Most aggressive drivers and just going to get more upset/aggressive after the ticket. A couple hundred bucks has never stopped me from having my fun on the roads.by K Gero : 6/25/09 9:48am - Report Abuse
It's the aggressive drivers who get more upset or aggressive and refuse to pay tickets, are later arrested with a bench warrant and probably more tickets, lose their license and possibly their car. That knocks one AD off the road UNTIL they go through retraining and hopefully anger management. I don't think Jeff refers his comment mainly to a first-time offender, but rather the chronic offenders who danger our lives every day that shouldn't be on the road. This is also a good way for the officers to catch those who are DUII, DWI, transporting narcotics and other no no's. More power to them.If I ever received a citation in my life, I wouldn't be angry at the officer, I would be angry with myself by not abiding by the rules and being so careless. Luckily in my 31 years of driving (knock on wood), I have never been cited as I respect the rules of the road and obey the laws. I also watch for changes in laws and correct my driving habits accordingly. That is what you call "Responsible Driving." My auto insurance awards me for being a responsible driver.
by Mrs T : 6/25/09 10:41am - Report Abuse
Ryan T - may I give you directions to P.I.R.? That is a facility built for "fun" with cars! Not our public highway system!by FelidaJoe : 6/25/09 12:06pm - Report Abuse
My my. Just like I had previously commented in another article on the same money raid, the so-called "DUI Patrols" actually snared drivers for mostly other violations. Isn't that amazing.Since no real breakdown of the "violations" were given, no one can know how much money was raked in off this revenue hunt. One thing is for sure, however. Each "violation" involves money far in excess of any so-called "fines" and helps feed the legal extortion machine otherwise known as the Clark County Courthouse.
When added to the usual every day revenue raids by local revenue officers, the total of monies raked in each year is staggering and yet some naive, ignorant individuals amongst the general populace are still convinced that the overall concern of the so-called "Justice System" is somehow about public safety.
by K Gero : 6/25/09 3:06pm - Report Abuse
FelidaJoe: Yes, you have sparked another comment from me, AGAIN! !) These so called revenue officers as you label them wouldn't get any money from the people if they would only obey the traffic laws and not be stopped, simple as that!!! If the driver is that irresponsible to be stopped and receive a citation, then too bad, so sad. Obey the rules, avoid the ticket. I have never had a citation in my life and I have driven over 30 years.
by Ham Chuck : 6/24/09 1:44am - Report Abuse
Are we safer or is this an government sanctioned extortion tactic to get more revenue?